HIGH SCHOOL TRACK: Jewelry snafu costs South Pasadena

SOUTH PASADENA - There likely will be very little friendship when the South Pasadena and Monrovia high school track and field teams meet next time.

That's because a friendship bracelet decided the Rio Hondo League girls title.

With the pole vault deciding Thursday's dual meet, Monrovia needed at least a second-place finish to claim its first league title.

South Pasadena's Rachel Ma and Monrovia's Samantha Boltz and Gabby McBride all cleared 7-0. South Pasadena's Robin Laird, the Tigers' best pole vaulter, passed at the height.

With a crosswind and both teams watching, cheering wildly on makes and groaning on misses, Laird easily cleared 7-6. Monrovia co-coach Mike Knowles pointed out Laird was wearing a friendship bracelet. Any jewelry calls for automatic disqualification. The coaches called CIF-Southern Section officials to confirm the disqualification.

"I hate that," Knowles said. "I didn't want to do that. I've lost a CIF title because a girl had one diamond earring she forgot to take out in the 4 by 400 relay."

Laird's disqualification gave the Wildcats a 65-62 win.

"Our girls know," South Pasadena assistant coach C.B. Richards said.

"It's going to seem like the onus is on her and you could tell her all we can that it's not," South Pasadena coach P.J. Hernandez said. "Maybe if we could have eliminated a sweep here or there. Every point matters. For it to come to a DQ is unfortunate, but technically, the rule is the rule."

The Tigers' Rachel Ma won the event by clearing 7-6. If Laird had not been eliminated, the Tigers would have won the meet and league title, 66-61.

"It's a tough way to lose," Hernandez said.

In a similar league title showdown in the boys meet, South Pasadena easily took the crown when Monrovia elected to drop most of its athletes to the soph-frosh level in an effort to win that title. The Tigers won the varsity title, 80-27.

There was a lot of pressure on the vaulters, who usually jump unanimously.

"My stomach hurt," McBride said. "All the pressure was on us and we were really nervous."

Monrovia's Camille and Jazmine Robertson each won two events, Camille the 200 meters and 400 and Jazmine the 100 and 300 hurdles. So did South Pasadena's Anika Renken and Shalini Pace, Renken the 1,600 and 3,200 and Pace the long and triple jumps.

South Pasadena's Sam Pons won the 800, 1,600 and 3,200 and Blake Parson won the 110 and 300 hurdles. Monrovia's D.J. Jones won the 100 and 200.